Thread starter
#1
I didn't want to come on the Inferno right away after our loss on Sunday. Amazing how feelings can change just a day or two after such a painful experience. So now that we've all had some time to compose and reflect, I'd like to talk about a few things that I learned this year and what the future might hold for the Devils.
- I learned that we walked into the best fan base in the EIHL by a staggering margin. The support that you all gave the Devils at home fixtures, at away fixtures, at special events, for charity endeavors, here on the Inferno...the list goes on. We've all been shocked and humbled by the knowledge and the passion that exists in Cardiff for the great game of hockey and for the Devils in particular.
- I learned that the Kelman/Franny/Lord management team is probably even better than I could have imagined. With a matter of a few weeks and a much smaller budget than the other teams in our conference, those three men put together a team that entertained us all year, looked like the class of the league for extended periods of the season and most importantly, delivered a championship trophy to Cardiff. That experience was one of the highlights of my life and one that I will never forget.
- I learned that while the season as a whole was a success, we still have some work to do. I want to make sure that we are delivering the best on-ice product possible to our fans. The good news is that word has spread around the league and even in other leagues that Cardiff is a tremendous place to play. Several of our players have told me that in their years of pro hockey, this was the best situation they've ever had...and that's even though they had a glorified hallway for a locker room!
So what's next? I know that many of you have been waiting for an update on the rink. As with most transactions of that magnitude, things are moving far slower than I had hoped but that is no slight on Greenbank. They are doing everything asked of them and we remain hopeful that a deal can be worked out between Greenbank, Town Council and ourselves so that the arena is in good hands. I really don't have a time frame on that but our interest remains high.
As for player signings, I can tell you that our top priority is to bring back the nucleus of the team that brought so much joy to all of us this year. KelFranLord will take care of that and as a fan, I'm hoping that they can get things done with many of them in short order. They certainly have the owner's support to do that. I also think that we can upgrade the roster at the same time. There will always be some attrition from people retiring or moving to a different league and I'm hopeful that any open spots can be filled with players capable of making an impact. Having only half a season of revenue from the new arena is unfortunate but certainly our player budget will be able to expand from last year. Making promises on the type of players is obviously not good practice but our singular goal is to improve the team and win championships.
Long post so I'll end it there but I'd just like to once again thank all of you for making this just a magical year for me, Brian, Craig and Kelly. We are all completely addicted to all things Devils (just ask our very understanding wives!) and we just can't wait for next season.
All the best,
Steve
- I learned that we walked into the best fan base in the EIHL by a staggering margin. The support that you all gave the Devils at home fixtures, at away fixtures, at special events, for charity endeavors, here on the Inferno...the list goes on. We've all been shocked and humbled by the knowledge and the passion that exists in Cardiff for the great game of hockey and for the Devils in particular.
- I learned that the Kelman/Franny/Lord management team is probably even better than I could have imagined. With a matter of a few weeks and a much smaller budget than the other teams in our conference, those three men put together a team that entertained us all year, looked like the class of the league for extended periods of the season and most importantly, delivered a championship trophy to Cardiff. That experience was one of the highlights of my life and one that I will never forget.
- I learned that while the season as a whole was a success, we still have some work to do. I want to make sure that we are delivering the best on-ice product possible to our fans. The good news is that word has spread around the league and even in other leagues that Cardiff is a tremendous place to play. Several of our players have told me that in their years of pro hockey, this was the best situation they've ever had...and that's even though they had a glorified hallway for a locker room!
So what's next? I know that many of you have been waiting for an update on the rink. As with most transactions of that magnitude, things are moving far slower than I had hoped but that is no slight on Greenbank. They are doing everything asked of them and we remain hopeful that a deal can be worked out between Greenbank, Town Council and ourselves so that the arena is in good hands. I really don't have a time frame on that but our interest remains high.
As for player signings, I can tell you that our top priority is to bring back the nucleus of the team that brought so much joy to all of us this year. KelFranLord will take care of that and as a fan, I'm hoping that they can get things done with many of them in short order. They certainly have the owner's support to do that. I also think that we can upgrade the roster at the same time. There will always be some attrition from people retiring or moving to a different league and I'm hopeful that any open spots can be filled with players capable of making an impact. Having only half a season of revenue from the new arena is unfortunate but certainly our player budget will be able to expand from last year. Making promises on the type of players is obviously not good practice but our singular goal is to improve the team and win championships.
Long post so I'll end it there but I'd just like to once again thank all of you for making this just a magical year for me, Brian, Craig and Kelly. We are all completely addicted to all things Devils (just ask our very understanding wives!) and we just can't wait for next season.
All the best,
Steve
ickle
